Qing Chen Dan

"What kind of pill do you plan to refine tomorrow?" In the private room on the third floor of Yuanlai Teahouse, Pang Xuan asked Qin Ran.

Three consecutive days of top-tier rankings had made him truly see the hope of his Demon Island branch claiming first place. His respect for Qin Ran had shifted from superficial to genuine.

Qin Ran sipped his tea, gazing at the bustling streets outside the window, and replied to Pang Xuan, "Do you have any fifth or sixth-grade pill formulas prepared? Just hand me a few to look at."

"Sixth-grade pill formulas? Are you planning to refine a sixth-grade pill tomorrow?" Pang Xuan asked eagerly. "I do have sixth-grade formulas prepared, but... is there enough time now?"

In such competition settings, alchemists usually refine the pills they are most skilled at. Attempting an entirely unfamiliar pill—one where even the success rate couldn’t be guaranteed—would only invite ridicule.

"Didn’t you prepare those formulas for the competition? Hand them over. Give me the fifth-grade ones too—I’ll study them."

Qin Ran continued, "Bai Tu and Dong Guanhai are both sixth-grade alchemists. Unless something unexpected happens, they’ll definitely refine fifth-grade pills to ensure the quality of the final product. So, I’ll refine a fifth-grade pill as well."

Pang Xuan thought for a moment before retrieving five pill formulas and passing them to Qin Ran—two sixth-grade and three fifth-grade.

Qin Ran finally turned his gaze away from the window, set down his teacup, and took the formulas to examine them carefully.

"Which one will you refine?" Pang Xuan asked with concern.

Qin Ran didn’t answer immediately. Only after reading through the formulas did he reply, "I’ll refine the Dust-Clearing Pill."

"The Dust-Clearing Pill?"

Pang Xuan frowned. None of the formulas he had provided were for the Dust-Clearing Pill.

"Right," Qin Ran said. "The Dust-Clearing Pill is a creation of the Divine Essence Old Demon. When I inherited his legacy, I refined it many times. I can easily produce a supreme-grade Dust-Clearing Pill."

Pang Xuan realized then that Qin Ran had planned to refine the Dust-Clearing Pill from the start.

"Then why did you ask me for formulas?" he asked.

Qin Ran handed the formulas back to Pang Xuan with a chuckle. "An alchemist can’t resist a brand-new formula. I just wanted to study them, for academic discussion. Do you see a problem with that?"

"N-no, no problem." Pang Xuan took the formulas back and carefully stored them in the storage pouch at his waist.

Only then did it dawn on him that he had unwittingly given away five high-grade pill formulas for free.

High-grade pill formulas were akin to peerless cultivation techniques—equally precious and equally capable of sparking conflict and bloodshed. If he were to toss these five formulas out into the open, a storm of violence would erupt instantly.

Yet, Qin Ran had effortlessly taken them with just a few words… and the worst part was, Pang Xuan couldn’t even complain.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out.

"So, what’s the real purpose of winning first place in this alchemy competition?" Qin Ran asked. "Is it worth all the sacrifices you’re making?"

"It’s related to the organization’s plans… and my own future." Pang Xuan gave a vague answer, unwilling to elaborate. He quickly changed the subject. "No one paid attention to you before. But now, with three top-tier rankings and a spot in the top three, you need to be careful."

Qin Ran raised an eyebrow. "What, are people from other factions going to try to kill me over an alchemy competition?"

"More than that," Pang Xuan replied. "Other factions will target you, and so will Dong Guanhai."

"Isn’t Dong Guanhai part of the 'Yuan' organization?" Qin Ran suddenly realized, his expression shifting to alarm. "And isn’t he from the Hailang Sect branch? We’re in Yuanlai Teahouse right now—aren’t we in their headquarters?!"

"Exactly," Pang Xuan confirmed. "From the moment you earned those three top-tier rankings, the Hailang Sect branch has regarded you with hostility."

He added ominously, "Who knows? The tea you’re drinking right now might even be poisoned..."

Clatter!

Qin Ran’s teacup fell onto the table.

He shot to his feet and lunged toward the window.

Pang Xuan swiftly blocked him. "What are you doing?"

"Getting the hell out of here!" Qin Ran snapped, glaring at him. "You brought me straight into the enemy’s den—are you trying to get me killed faster?!"

Pang Xuan remained calm. "Where are we right now?"

"Yuanlai Teahouse!"

"And who are we?"

"Members of the 'Yuan' organization?" Qin Ran answered uncertainly.

"Exactly. We are the 'Yuan' organization. There’s no safer place on this island than here!" Pang Xuan said firmly. "The Hailang Sect branch may act against you, but they won’t dare do so openly."

He continued, "But if you step outside, not only will they strike directly, but other factions will too. That’s when you’ll truly have no chance of survival."

After a moment of thought, Qin Ran saw the logic. He was still an internal member of the organization. No matter how intense the infighting, outright murder within their ranks was unthinkable. But the Hailang Sect and other factions? They wouldn’t hesitate.

He exhaled and sat back down.

"You only mentioned a competition at first—not that I’d be risking my life," he grumbled to Pang Xuan. "Who knew a simple contest would be so deadly?"

"Did you really not anticipate this?" Pang Xuan countered.

Given Qin Ran’s cunning nature, could he truly have overlooked such a possibility?

"I asked you to win first place in this competition. In the cultivation world, claiming the top spot is never just about skill." Pang Xuan poured himself another cup of tea.

"I refuse to believe you didn’t consider this. The way you sought me out for deals in teahouses, your schemes on Dragon Whale Island, the methods you used to obtain the Divine Essence Immortal Condensation—you’re far from naive."

Qin Ran smirked. "So that’s how it is, huh?"

With enemies lurking both inside and outside the teahouse, Qin Ran decided not to leave at all. He spent the entire night in the private room on the third floor.

It was a restless night.

People flew back and forth inside and outside the building. The sounds of fighting—upstairs, downstairs—never ceased. Other factions tried to break in, while the 'Yuan' organization’s forces fought them off. The Hailang Sect branch attempted to infiltrate the private room, only to be blocked by the Demon Island branch members guarding the door at all costs.

Only when dawn broke did the chaos inside and outside Yuanlai Teahouse gradually subside.

"Another night of bloodshed," Qin Ran sighed.

He stood and opened the door to the private room. The teahouse was littered with corpses, the floors awash with blood—no one had even begun cleaning up yet. He stepped out, leaving bloody footprints with every step as he descended the stairs. Pushing open the main door, he walked onto the street and headed toward the competition grounds at the island’s center.

With three top-tier rankings under his belt, Qin Ran had gained considerable fame. Many eyes followed him as he passed through the crowd and took his place in the square.

The fourth day of the competition required participants to refine any pill of their choice.

If the third day had been a "prompted essay," the fourth was a "free-form composition."

Contestants could refine whatever they pleased—whether it was a first-grade pill or an immortal-grade one, it didn’t matter.

They could either bring their own ingredients or use those provided by the Hailang Sect.

Before refining began, there was a preparatory phase where participants could visit the Hailang Sect’s herb pavilion to select the materials they needed.

But what ingredients they could find there… well, that depended entirely on their own abilities.

It is worth noting that the pills refined in the square today belong to the contestants themselves.

Therefore, whatever medicinal herbs the contestants obtain from the herb pavilion and whatever pills they refine are entirely their own.

Qin Ran did not rush to grab herbs. From the very beginning of the competition, he went straight to refining.

In fact, quite a few alchemists chose not to scramble for herbs. None of those aiming for a high ranking would dare take the herbs provided by the Hailang Sect, as no one could be certain they were free of tampering.

The Dust-Clearing Pill was something Qin Ran had refined countless times in the sealed realm—many batches of top-grade Dust-Clearing Pills at that. Back then, he hadn’t even possessed the Divine Essence Immortal Condensation. Now that he had mastered it, refining Dust-Clearing Pills became almost effortless.

On the third day, when refining an entirely unfamiliar pill, he had been the last to finish. But on the fourth day, refining a pill he knew well, he was the first.

While many alchemists were still extracting medicinal essences—some even yet to return from gathering herbs—he had already completed his refinement.

The moment this batch of top-grade Dust-Clearing Pills appeared on the competition grounds, the outcome was decided.

Qin Ran casually picked one pill and flicked it toward the judges’ platform. Then, he stored the remaining top-grade Dust-Clearing Pills and was the first to walk out of the competition area.

While the other alchemists were still laboring over their cauldrons, he stepped out leisurely under the gaze of all the spectators.

"You finished so quickly?" Pang Xuan frowned. "Can you secure first place?"

Qin Ran tossed him a top-grade Dust-Clearing Pill and said, "If this doesn’t earn me first place, then the problem isn’t with me."